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About Me

I am a writer of all things supernatural, and some things not.
In September '08 I decided I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. Since then I have gotten a Diploma in Creative Writing from Kilroys College in Dublin.
I struggled to find a home for my stories until August 2010. Since then I've had around 70 stories accepted for publication from small presses such as; Pill Hill Press, Wicked East Press, and Static Movement.
My first collection of short stories "Strings" is currently on sale, and my short novel Love's Curse is set for release late May 2015.
I am determined to continue with achieving my dream and hopefully entertain you while I do. Thank you everyone, and I hope you enjoy my work.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Once again I have been tagged to do a Blog Hop by the wonderfully talented
Miss Emma Ennis,
Author of Red Wine and Words. A fantastic collection of short
stories, and it's on sale now over at Amazon.co.uk Click the link above and go
grab yourself a copy!

What are you working on right now?
Right now I am finishing up my second collection of short stories. (I
know... I know... The first one isn't even out yet, but that's not my fault! If
it had of been released last year when it was supposed to, then this would be
the perfect time to get another ready. But I've learned that if you wait around
for people to do something for you, you never get anything done. You never
progress!)
So yeah, second collection, and I'm really excited about it. How much I have
grown as a writer in the last few years is reflected in this book.
I'm also working on a Novella in the background, but I'm not going to say
too much about that just yet..:)

What experiences have influenced you?
As I mentioned above, the experience of waiting, wishing, willing, and
hoping, for my first collection to be published has taught me a lot. At the
beginning when it was accepted I fell away from writing because I was excited
for it to come out, then it didn't, and still hasn't. The despair you feel
waiting for it to happen, been told it was gonna happen, and then it doesn't,
really takes it's toll on you. I've learned though that once it's out of your
hands you have to let go of it, (no matter how hard it is) and move on to the
next story. Always move on! It keeps you from loosing focus of your dream when
others don't even know they are destroying it...

How does it differ from other works in its genre?
Does one collection really differ from another? Of course they do, but
that's only in the way the stories are told. It's my Voice that makes it
different. It's me, it's how I tell and create stories that makes my book
differ from others. It may be good, it may be terrible, but it's me, and that's
what makes it different.

Why do you write what you do?
When I think back to my childhood I remember being told loads of ghost
stories. As an adolescent my brother got me hooked on Stephen King, and I read
as many of his books as I could get my hands on. So basically I've been around
Horror my whole life, and I love it. Books, films, games, you name it, anything
goes. :)

How does your writing process work?
Basically I get an idea in my head and go with it. Unless I have this vast
idea, I won't sit down and plan it out. I just write, I suppose I write as a
reader. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing, but that's how I
do it.

What is the hardest part about writing?
Keeping motivated, as I said above. Also, staying focused and committed to
writing everyday. Some days you just get lazy and that will roll on to the
next, and the next, and before you know it you're at the end of the month and
way behind on your word target...

What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?
A Novel.
This is the one thing that has eluded me so far. I've had attempts at
writing ones but I seem to loose focus and move on to something else. I have a
novel attempt from four or five years ago sitting at 33,000 words. I've one I
started last year sitting at 25,000 words, and another at 15,000, but somehow I
just can't stay with it long enough to finish it, yet.
My stories are getting longer though. They are turning into Novelettes and
Novellas, where as before they would have ended up somewhere between 1,000 and
4,000 words. So maybe it's just progress, and to be honest, it's probably
working out better this way.

Who are the authors you most admire?
Stephen King, James Herbert, Neil Gaiman, are the guys I've been reading for
years. I recently got into reading George R.R. Martin, and I love his A Song of
Ice and Fire series.
An up and coming Author I really admire is, Ray Cluley. I found Ray's work
in the pages of Black
Static and I've loved them all. Ray is the future of Horror! Yes, you heard
it here first!

Who are new authors to watch out for?Ray Cluley
- Seriously, check this guy out! You'll love him.Emma Ennis
- Her collection is brilliant, and she has more in store for us!Thom Erb - Thom's
Novella, Tones of Home is amazing, and will be released real soon.Charles
Day - The future master of YA Horror.Brady Allen -
Another master of the craft. Go check out his awesome collection.Mark Taylor -
My publishing brother! You'll love his collection when it comes out.

What scares you?
In terms of Horror, reading/writing/watching... Well then that would be possession.
That shit creeps me out!! I don't shy away from it by any means, but it does
give me a wave of goosebumps...

~~~

That's enough from me for one day, but next week I pass the buck to a few
good friends of mine. Don't forget to check them out and see what answers they
come up with.